Caladium plant named ‘White Star’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Caladium  plant named ‘White Star’, characterized by its intermediate to tall plant habit; vigorous and dense growth habit; rapid growth rate; and strap-type leaves that are white to grey-green in color with pink to light pink-colored veins and dark green-colored borders.

Botanical designation: Caladium×hortulanum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘WHITE STAR’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Caladium plant, botanically known as Caladium×hortulanum, commercially referred to as a strap leaf-type Caladium and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘White Star’.

The objective of the Inventor's breeding program is to create new Caladium cultivars that have uniform plant habit, exceptional performance and attractive foliage coloration.

The new Caladium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in April, 2002, in Lake Placid, Fla. of Caladium×hortulanum ‘White Wing’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Caladium×hortulanum ‘Gingerland’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Caladium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Lake Placid, Fla. on Jun. 15, 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Caladium plant by tuber divisions in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Lake Placid, Fla. since Apr. 15, 2004 has shown that the unique features of this new Caladium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Caladium have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘White Star’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘White Star’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Caladium:

-   -   1. Intermediate to tall plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous and dense growth habit; rapid growth rate.     -   3. Strap-type leaves that are white to grey-green in color with         pink to light pink-colored veins and dark green-colored borders.

Plants of the new Caladium differ from plants of the female parent, ‘White Wing’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium are not as upright as plants of         ‘White Wing’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium grow faster than plants of ‘White         Wing’.     -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium are more rounded than         and not as pointed as leaves of plants of ‘White Wing’.     -   4. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘White Wing’ differ in leaf         coloration as plants of ‘White Wing’ have white-colored leaves         with a mottled dark and light green-colored borders.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the male parent, ‘Gingerland’, in leaf coloration as plants of ‘Gingerland’ have white-colored leaves with red-colored spots and dark green-colored borders.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants of ‘Mount Everest’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Lake Placid, Fla., plants of the new Caladium differed primarily from plants of ‘Mount Everest’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium were more compact than plants of         ‘Mount Everest’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium grew faster than plants of ‘Mount         Everest’.     -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium were more rounded than         and not as narrow as leaves of plants of ‘Mount Everest’.     -   4. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Mount Everest’ differed in         leaf coloration as plants of ‘Mount Everest’ had white to         grey-green-colored leaves with dark pink to red-colored venation         and dark green-colored borders.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants of ‘White Marble’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,819. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Lake Placid, Fla., plants of the new Caladium differed primarily from plants of ‘White Marble’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium were more compact and denser than         plants of ‘White Marble’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium grew faster than plants of ‘White         Marble’.     -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘White Marble’ differed in         leaf coloration as plants of ‘White Marble’ had white-colored         leaves with white-colored venation and dark green-colored         borders.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Caladium. These photographs show the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Caladium.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘White Star’ grown in a container in a shadehouse.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a side perspective view of typical plants of ‘White Star’ (top center), ‘White Marble’ (left) and ‘Mount Everest’ (right) grown in a shadehouse.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a side perspective view of typical plants of ‘White Star’ (top center), ‘White Wing’ (left) and ‘Gingerland’ (right) grown in a shadehouse.

The photograph at the top of the third sheet is a top perspective view of typical plants of ‘White Star’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph at the bottom of the third sheet is a close-up view of typical freshly-dug tubers and roots of ‘White Star’.

The photograph on the fourth sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘White Star’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in 15-cm containers in Avon Park, Fla. during the spring in a polypropylene-covered shadehouse and plants grown in ground beds in Zolfo Springs, Fla. during the late summer in an outdoor nursery. All plants were grown under conditions and practices which approximate those generally used in commercial Caladium production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from about 29° C. to 35° C., night temperatures ranged from about 22° C. to 26° C. and light levels were about 8,000 foot-candles (shadehouse) or 10,000 to 12,000 foot-candles (outdoor nursery). Plants had been growing in the shadehouse for nine weeks from planting tubers when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. Plants had been growing in the outdoor nursery for seven months from planting tuber pieces when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Caladium×hortulanum ‘White Star’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Caladium×hortulanum ‘White Wing’,             not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Caladium×hortulanum ‘Gingerland’,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By tubers and by tuber divisions.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to ten days at             32° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two to three weeks at             24° C.         -   Tuber description (outdoor nursery-grown             plants).—Appearance: Multi-segmented; individual segments             ovate to rounded in shape. Height: About 4.2 cm. Diameter:             About 6.3 cm. Texture: Thick, starchy; somewhat brittle.             Color: Epidermis, close to 199B, with development, close to             200A to 200B; interior, close to 10D. Root description:             Dense, thick, fleshy; white, close to 155C, in color. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial.         -   Plant/growth habit.—Upright and intermediate to tall plant             habit; inverted triangle; rapid growth rate; vigorous, dense             growth habit; suitable for 15-cm to 25-cm containers. Leaf             petioles arising from tubers; petioles mostly upright and             leaning and curving outwardly with development.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of leaf plane,             shadehouse-grown plants.—About 30 cm to 39 cm.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of inflorescences,             shadehouse-grown plants.—About 41 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread, shadehouse-grown plants.—About 52             cm to 58 cm.         -   Cataphylls (only observed on shadehouse-grown             plants).—Length: About 5 cm to 9 cm. Width: About 1.1 cm.             Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Sheathing the stem.             Color, inner and outer surfaces: Between N170D and 182D with             fine streaks, close to 147A and tinged with close to N199B;             with development, color becoming closer to between 199C to             200A faintly stained with close to N186D. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Length, shadehouse-grown plants.—About 18.5 cm to 25 cm.         -   Width, shadehouse-grown plants (flattened).—About 12 cm to             18 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Sagittate-peltate to sagittate.         -   Margin.—Entire; undulate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous; glaucous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color, shadehouse-grown plants.—Developing leaves, upper             surface: Center: Close to 191C to 191D; random diffuse             areas, close to 147A, 191C, 137A or 155C; basal notch, close             to 187A to 187C. Border and margins: Close to 147A; thin             edge, close to N186C. Venation: Midrib, close to 155C             flushed with close to 49C to 49D; lateral veins, close to             155C flushed with close to 49D. Developing leaves, lower             surface: Center: Close to 155C; random diffuse areas, close             to 137B, 191A or 147B. Border and margins: Between 137B and             191A often variably and faintly tinged with close to N186C.             Venation: Midrib and lateral veins, close to 159C tinged             with close to 36C to 36D. Fully expanded leaves, upper             surface: Center: Close to 191C; random diffuse areas, close             to 147A, 147B, 191C, 137B or 155C occasionally tinged with             close to 62D; basal notch, close to 187A to 187B; occasion             random spots, close to 60A to 60B. Border and margins:             Between 137A and 147A; thin edge, close to N186C. Venation:             Midrib and lateral veins, close to 62C to 62D to close to             59B to 59C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Center:             Close to 155C tinged with close to 62D; random diffuse             areas, close to 191A, 147B to 147C and 137C; random spots,             close to 186A to 186B; basal notch, close to 187A to 187C.             Border and margins: Close to 191A; fine edge, close to             N186C. Venation: Midrib, close to 181D; lateral veins, close             to 51D.         -   Petiole.—Aspect: Mostly erect, leaning and curving outwardly             with development. Length, shadehouse-grown plants: About 24             to 33.5 cm. Diameter, distal, shadehouse-grown plants: About             3.2 mm to 5 mm. Diameter, proximal, shadehouse-grown plants:             About 7 mm to 10 mm. Color, proximal, shadehouse-grown             plants: Between 182D and N170D variably and densely streaked             and marked with between N199B to 147A. Color, distal,             shadehouse-grown plants: Close to 182C to 182D faintly             tinged with close to 177D and variably and finely streaked             with between N199B and 147A. Wing length, shadehouse-grown             plants: About 4.5 cm to 6.7 cm. Wing diameter,             shadehouse-grown plants: About 6 mm to 10 mm. Wing color,             shadehouse-grown plants: Between N170D and 182D variably             streaked with close to 147A and tinged with close to N199B. -   Inflorescence description: Inflorescences only observed on     shadehouse-grown plants.     -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Upright hooded spathes             surrounding a columnar spadix borne on a tall upright scape.             Spadix with sessile, simple female and male flowers             separated into two zones. Female flowers arranged on the             lower one-third of the spadix; male flowers arranged on the             upper two-thirds of the spadix. Sterile flowers develop             between female and male flower zones; near this area, the             spathe constricts surrounding the female flowers.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season/longevity.—Plants of the new             Caladium typically flower during the spring or early summer             in central Florida. Flowers develop about six weeks after             growth commences. Inflorescences last about three days             before fading; inflorescences persistent.         -   Spathe.—Length: About 13.5 cm. Width, distal: About 3.2 cm.             Width, proximal: About 3 cm. Width, at constriction: About             2 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Tapering. Margin:             Entire; slightly reflexed. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Front surface: Upper             two-thirds: Close to 159C to 159D faintly tinged with close             to 194B; color becoming closer to 199B to 199C with             development. Lower one-third: Between 138B to 143C; towards             the base, deeply colored with close to N186C; color becoming             closer to between 137C and 147B streaked and mottled with             close to 146D and 148D with development. Rear surface: Upper             two-thirds: Between 160D and 162C variably tinged with close             to 146D. Lower one-third: Between 137C and 147B streaked and             mottled with close to 146D and Spadix: Length, entire             spadix: About 9 cm. Length, male flower zone: About 6.5 cm.             Length, sterile flower zone: About 7 mm. Length, female             flower zone: About 2.5 cm. Diameter, male flower zone: About             1.1 cm. Diameter, sterile flower zone: About 9 mm. Diameter,             female flower zone: About 1.1 cm. Shape: Spindle-shaped to             columnar. Apex: Bluntly acute. Base: Obtuse. Aspect:             Upright. Color, mature, male zone: Close to 159D. Color,             mature, sterile zone: Close to 159D. Color, mature, female             zone: Close to 164D. Male flowers: Quantity per spadix:             About 329. Shape: Obovate. Height: About 3.5 mm. Diameter:             About 2 mm. Anther color: Close to 159D. Amount of pollen:             None observed. Female flowers: Quantity per spadix:             About 268. Shape: Obovate. Height: About 3.5 mm. Diameter:             About 2.2 mm. Stigma color: Close to 164D. Ovary color:             Close to 4D. Scape: Length: About 28.5 cm. Diameter: About             7 mm. Strength: Sturdy; flexible. Aspect: Erect. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous; glaucous. Color: Proximal: Close to N170D             tinged with close to 182D and streaked with close to 147A             tinged with close to N199B. Distal: Between 147B and 191B to             191C. Seed and fruit: Seed and fruit development have not             been observed on plants of the new Caladium. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Caladium have been     observed to be somewhat tolerant to Pythium root rot and Xanthomonas     leaf spot. Plants of the new Caladium have not been observed to be     resistant to pests or other pathogens common to Caladium. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been observed     to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 7° C. to about 40°     C. 

1. A new and distinct Caladium plant named ‘White Star’ as illustrated and described. 